Times Observer Photo by Cody Elms A host of Dragons attempt to bring down Meadville back Brady Walker (10) in the state-ranked Bulldogs’ 76-7 Region 5 win Friday at War Memorial Field.

They’re big, they’re strong, they’re fast. … They have a good band. There’s a reason Meadville is state-ranked in Class 4A and the Bulldogs showed it on Friday.

“All of the above,” said Warren coach Mark Morelli of Meadville’s 76-7 Region 5 win over Class 3A Warren at War Memorial Field. “They’re like a tsunami wave on offense. You can’t stop them; at least we can’t. They’ll do well in the playoffs.”

On offense, senior running back Khalon Simmons scored five touchdowns in the first half, and six in all. His 45-yard punt return for a touchdown came right after Warren’s three-and-out on offense to start the game. He had two rushing scores in the first quarter as well. He added a 63-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter and another score on the ground before the half.

In fact, Meadville (8-1) scored three touchdowns in 28 seconds to end the first half. After Simmons’ TD catch and run with 32.9 seconds left in the first half, Meadville recovered the kickoff at Warren’s 25-yard line. Simmons finished that one off with a 13-yard score on the ground. Warren (5-4) was going to take a knee to end the half but fumbled the snap; defensive lineman Ruric Douglas picked it up and rumbled 34 yards for the final score of the half with 4.8 seconds left.

“They’re a well-rounded football team — physical, fast, all those adjectives you just said,” stated Morelli. “Despite the score, three times we were in the red zone and three times we came up empty. We had our moments, but they’re just too good for us to stay on the field with.”

Some of those moments ended with turnovers as Meadville picked off Warren quarterback Eric Dippold four times and recovered two Dragon fumbles.

“It’s a rough way for our seniors to go out (at War Memorial),” said Morelli. “What we’ve got to do now is move on; we’ve got one game left, maybe more. When you get beat this bad, your character starts to show, and our character’s going to come through next week. … I’m confident that these kids will come back and give us everything they’ve got next week (at General McLane).”

Warren’s lone score came on a 21-yard scamper from senior Ethan Senz, who had 62 yards rushing in the second half. Dippold finished with 14 completions, including eight to Tommy Nyquist for 91 yards.

Meadville 21 27 14 14 — 76

Warren 0 0 0 7 — 7

First quarter

M–Khalon Simmons 45 punt return, 9:42 (Oliver Przepiora kick)

M–Simmons 1 run, 6:28 (Przepiora kick) M–Simmons 27 run, 2:27 (Przepiora kick)

Second quarter

M–Amarri Lewis 15 run, 6:25 (Przepiora kick)

M–Simmons 63 pass from Gavin Longstreth, :32.9 (kick fails)

M–Simmons 13 run, :21.3 (Przepiora kick)

M–Ruric Douglas 34 fumble return, :04.8 (Przepiora kick)

Third quarter

M–Brady Walker 5 run, 10:41 (Przepiora kick)

M–Simmons 1 run, 6:59 (Przepiora kick)

Fourth quarter

M–Jordan Lawrence 45 run, 11:50 (Przepiora kick)

M–Jacoby Thompson 15 interception return, 11:37 (Przepiora kick)

W–Ethan Senz 21 run, 8:34 (Gavin Rex kick)

Individual statistics

Rushing: M–Simmons 10-67, 4TD; Walker 9-95, TD; Lewis 3-49, TD; Angelo Feleppa 3-(-7); Braydn Miller 2-22; Thompson 2-12; Tahlir McClure 2-7; Nicholas Williams 1-7; Kamarii Pope 1-0; Ryan Elverton 1-(-5). W–Tommy Nyquist 12-29; Senz 6-61, TD; Eric Dippold 4-(-6); Cayden Wright 2-3; Sam Harvey 2-0.

Passing: M–Simmons 3 of 6 for 70 yards; Longstreth 1 of 2 for 63 yards, TD. W–Dippold 14 of 26 for 137 yards, 4 INT.

Receiving: M–Simmons 1-63, TD; Brighton Anderson 1-53; Walker 1-12; Williams 1-5. W–Nyquist 8-91; Colin Shene 2-22; Wright 2-13; Senz 2-11.